For his movie about an exotic dancer who weds a Russian heir, Sean Baker won awards for best director, original screenplay and editing.

Before the 2024 festival began, Anora ’s presence in the lineup was noted, but considering Baker’s paltry Oscar track record, the film was hardly treated as a potential awards breakout. Things changed once Anora premiered to widespread acclaim,

Director Sean Baker, producers Alex Coco and Samantha Quan and cast and crew members win the Oscar for Best Picture for "Anora" during the Oscars show at the 97th Academy Awards in Hollywood, Los Angeles,

"Anora," director Sean Baker's Gen Z version of "Pretty Woman," earned six Oscar nominations and was in running for best picture.

Thank you for reading our live blog about the 2025 Academy Awards—a big night for “Anora” and “The Brutalist,” whose wins represent something of a resurgence for independent filmmaking at the Oscars.